Machine for straightening auger-bits.



E. T. McPHERSON.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AUGER BITS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. ms.

Patented May 23,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

. 4 I I I IU IHh HHH I I I I I I I I i II lillul 51mm ,Ffiner Z/WT PIQ emen,

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. T. McPHERSON.

MACHINE EOR STRAIGHTENING AUGER BITS.

- APPLICATlON FILED MAY 20, 1915. 1,184,551. r Patented May 23,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Elma/M01,

,Ebner TWP/18mm E. T. McPHERSON.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AUGER ans.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZO, 1915.

m% NW .ller'son,

3 vSHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented May 23, 1916.

E Qm m a ma S m m V w ELIVIER r. McPHERSON,

0F WILMINGTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE. IRWIN AUG-ER BIT COMPANY, orWILMINGTON, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR STRAIGHTENING AUG-ER-BITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, mm.

Application filed May 20, 1915. Serial No. 29,285.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER T. MGPHER- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Wilmington, in the county of Clinton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forStraightening Auger-Bits and the like, of Which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a machine for straightening auger bits and thelike. Auger bits are usually forged to shape by a series of operationson power hammers, each hammer having dies to impart the desired shape tothat portion of the bit upon which it operates. At the end of theseseveral operations the bit is seldom true and it is necessary that itshould be straightened before it can be used. The bit is usuallystraightened before it goes to the finishing operations. It has beencustomary heretofore to straighten the bits by hand, the Work being doneby the use of an anvil and hammer, the operator depending upon his eyeto determine when the bit was true. The straightening operation whenperformed in this manner is' a tedious and difiicult one and is not onlyexpensive, because of the time it requires, but is unsatisfactory in itsresults. After an operator has worked for several hours at straighteningbits his eyes become very weary and he can no longer determineaccurately whether or not a bit is true. As a result it not infrequentlyhappens that imperfect bits are passed on to the finishing operationsand must be eventually discarded.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine forstraightening the bits which will not depend upon the eye of theoperator to determine when the bit is straight.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a machine whichwill be very simple in its construction and operation; and which will beof such a character that it will not require special skill on the partof the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a machine whichcan be adjusted to accommodate bits of different sizes; and which willstraighten the bits much more rapidly than they can be straightened byhand.

- ing devices.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a top plan view of a machineembodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view taken onthe line at as of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows,parts being omitted for clearness; Fig. 3 1s a plan view, partly insection, of the bit supporting chucks and straightening de vices,showing the latter positioned to impart the preliminary bend to the bit;Fig. 4 s a front elevation of one of the straightenlng devices; Fig. 5is a sectional view of one of the cliuclnsupporting shafts; and Fig. 6is a vertical section of the machine showing the clutch mechanism on theline 66 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In carrying out my invention I provide two bit-supportin devices adaptedto rotate about coincident fixed axes. These bit-supporting devices areof such a character that they will receive the respective ends of thebit and cause these ends of the bit to rotate about the axes of therespective bitsupport It will be obvious that in so rotating the bitsany parts of the bits which are out of true will travel ina patheccentric to the axis of the rotation of the ends of the bit. Toeliminate these irregularities from the bit I provide one or more bitstraightening devices which are arranged to act on the bit between itsends while it is being rotated and thus straighten the same. I prefer toactuate the straightening device or devices to impart to the bit apreliminary bend and then to gradually eliminate this bend, as in thisway a most efficient straightening actions is had. These operations maybe carried out in various ways and by devices of different kinds and Ihave, in the present instance, shown one form of mechanism forperforming the straightening operation, this particular mechanism beingone that has proven very satisfactory in operation.

In the particular embodiment of the invention hear illustrated I haveshown the machine as comprisinga frame 1 which may be of any suitablekind and is here shown of a character somewhat similar to the ordi narylathe frame. Mounted on this frame for rotation about fixed axes are twoshafts, 2 and 3. The shaft 9, is mounted in fixed bearings 4i and 5,while the shaft 3 is mounted in similar fixed bearings (i and 7. Thesebearings are arranged in alinement so that the shafts rotate about acommon axis. Each shaft is provided on its inner end with abit-supporting device or chuck, each adapted to receive one end of a bitand hold the same against rotation relatively to its shaft. Rotation maybe impartedto the shafts in any suitable manner and, in the presentinstance, the shaft 2 has loosely mounted thereon a belt pulley 8adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the shaft by means of aclutch 9 having a grooved collar 10 to receive the yoke of a shiftinglever 11. I prefer to positively rotate both shafts, as in this way notonly are the shafts caused to rotate at a uniform speed but alltortional twist or strain on the bit is eliminated. I have, therefore,mounted on the shaft 2 a gear 12 which meshes with a second gear 13 on acountershaft 1a: mounted in suitable bearings 15 at the rear of themachine. This countershaft has at its opposite end a gear 16 whichmeshes with a gear 17 on the shaft 3, thus forming a direct and positiveconnection between the two shafts, and the gears being of a one to oneratio it is obvious that the two shafts will rotate at exactly the samespeed.

The two chucks are adapted, respectively, to receive the shank and thepoint or cutting end of the bit. That chuck on the shaft 2 is here shownas adapted to receive the shank of the bit and, to this end, itcomprises a part 18 having a socket adapted to receive the extreme endportion of theshank of the bit, this socket being arranged in the axisof rotation of the shaft. Mounted about this socket and secured theretofor rotation therewith is a sleeve or head 19 which extends somedistance in front of the socket and is provided with a recess 20 toreceive a plate 21, this plate hi ving an aperture to receive the largerportion of the tapered shank. The head 19 is secured to the socketmember for sliding movement and, to this end, it is provided withlongitudinal slots 23 through which extend screws 241 by means of whichit is connected vith the socket member. A spring 25 is interposedbetween the head and the socket member and tends to hold the parts intheir most widely separated positions. It will be noted that this chuckgrips the shank at two separated points. The head 19 is loosely mountedon the socket so that it is capable of a slight lateral movement. Theside of the head 19 bears against a guide roller 26 which is arranged adistance from the axis of the socket equal to the radius of the head 19.If the shank of the bit is out of true the head will be displacedlaterally to receive the same and when the bit is rotated, both endsbeing held in a common axis, that side of the head which has been movedaway from the axis of the chuck will be engaged by the guide roller 26and forced back to its true position, thus straightening the shank. Itwill be noted that the guide roller 26 is mounted in an adjustablesupporting bracket 27. The chuck for the shaft 3, which is shown at 28,is provided with a socket 29 to receive the screw-threaded tip of thebit and the outer portion of the chuck is tapered, as shown at 30, tofit snugly within the longitudinally projecting lips of the bit.Preferably, this tapered portion of the chuck is serrated or roughenedto give the same a firm gripping action on the bit. This arrangement issuch that the socket 29 will tend to straighten the tip of the bitshould the latter be out of true. This chuck 28 is capable oflongitudinal movement to permit of the insertion and removal of the bitand is yieldingly held in engagement with the bit. This may beaccomplished in different ways but, in the present instance, the shaft 3is shown as hollow and has mounted therein an inner shaft or spindle 415provided on its outer end with a collar 17 to form a stop to cooperatewith the shifting yoke d8 of a lever 19, which lever is pivotallymounted at one end on a bracket and is provided at its other end with ahandle 51. This inner spindle projects some distance beyond the innerend of the shaft 3 and is provided with a tapered socket 532 to receivethe tapered end of the chuck 28. A spring 53 is coiled about the spindle45 between a flange on the inner end of the spindle and a similar flange55 on the end of the. Thus the manipulation of hollow shaft 3. the lever19 will withdraw the chuck against the tension of the spring 52 and whenthe lever is released the chuck will auto-math cally engage the end ofthe bit which has been placed in position and will hold the same firmlyin position. The yielding character of this chuck not only permits ofthe insertion and removal of the bits but it also permits the chuck toaccommodate itself to the different positions assumedby the end of thebit during the straightening operation and thus hold the bit firmly inthe chuck. Vi hile the change in the position of the end of the bit dueto the bending and straightening of the bit is not very great it is suchthat the grip of the chucks would be loosened if the latter were mountedin fixed positions.

The strai htening devices which are arranged to act upon the bit betweenthe two chucks may be of any suitable character and the number ofstraightening devices em ployed and their exact arrangement may bevaried according to the size of the bit or other conditions enteringinto the straight: ening operation. The straightening devices, which arehereshown at 31 and 32, each comprises, in the present instance, a pairof rollers 33 mounted on parallel axes and spaced slightly apart. In thepresent arrangement the axes of the rollers of each pair are arranged inthe same vertical plane. The rollers 33 are preferably convex, thatis,their circumferential portions taper on a curved line from a centertoward the ends. Consequently, the two rollers have between them arecess, the width of which gradually increases toward its end. Each pairof rollers is mounted on a slide block orframe 34: slidably mounted formovement toward and away from the axis of rotation of the bit and, inthe present instance, slidably mounted on a guide frame 35 which isadjustable lengthwise of the bit by means of locking devices 36traveling in grooves 37 formed in the frame or bed of the machine. Thislongitudinal adjustment is for the purpose of placing the straighteningdevices in proper positions relatively to the work. The transversesliding movement is to permit the straightening devices to be actuatedto cause the bit to be straightened. This transverse movement may beimparted to the straightening devices in any suitable manner butinasmuch as the two devices are located on opposite sides of the bit itis desirable that the straightening devices should be movedsimultaneously in opposite directions. In the present instance I haveprovided the slide block of each straightening device with a rod 38having at one end an eccentric strap 39 extending about an eccentric 40on a countershaft ll mounted in bearings 42 carried by brackets i3mounted on the side of the frame. These eccentrics are so adjusted thatthe movements of the straightening devices will be properly timed and inproper direction. Preferably, the rods 38 are made extensible by the useof turn buckles 44c.

The countershaft 4.1 may be rocked in any suitable manner to impartmovement to the straightening devices. As here shown it is provided witha handle 56, by means of which the straightening devices may beactuated, and is also provided with a counterweight 57 to return it toits normal position. The handle 56 is also utilized to operate theclutch 9 and the chuck 28 so that the one handle completely controls theoperation of the machine. To this end the rockshaft is provided at oneend with an arm 58 ar- 'anged to slidably engage a rod 59 mounted in twopins 60 carried by one arm 61 of a bell crank lever which is mounted ona horizontal rearwardly extending pivot on the frame at 62' The lever 11constitutes the remaining arm of the bell crank lever and extendsvertically upwardly and rearwardly from the pivot 62. When the end ofthe arm 61 moves downwardly or upwardly, the end of the lever 11 inengagement with the clutch will move laterally sufficiently to operatethe clutch. While this particular construction has been chosen becauseof certain advantages it will be obvious that the connection between therockshaft and the clutch shifting lever may be made in various ways. Theopposite end of the shaft 41 is also provided with an arm (33, arrangedto engage an arm 64: pivotally mounted on the frame at 65 and havingrigidly secured thereto an arm or bracket (36 wh'ch is connected bymeans of a rod 67 with the lever 49 which controls the chuck '28, theconnection being preferably formed by universal joints to permit of therelative movement of the parts. It will be apparent that the move mentof the handle 56 not only imparts movement to the straightening devicesbut also operates the clutch and the chuck.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from theforegoing description and it will be apparent that in operating themachine the operator first actuates the lever to move the straighteningde vices or rollers 31 and 32 away from the bit, to actuate the clutchto disconnect the shaft 2 from the power and to actuate the chuck 28 torelease the bit. This bit is removed and another one inserted.Preferably the operator carries the bit which is to be operated upon inhis hand as he reaches for the finished bit and thus removes one bit andinserts the other at practically one operation. In inserting the bit theshank thereof is inserted in the chuck in the shaft 2, the handle 56actuated to cause the chuck 28 to be moved into engagement with the tipof the bit and to cause the driving pulley 8 to be clutched to the shaft2, thus causing the bit to be rotated. A further movement of the handle56 in the same direction causes the bit st 'aightening devices to engagethe bit, on opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the straighteningdevices are forced against the bit in such a manner as to bend the sameabout the curved surfaces of the rollers. This bending operation iscarried beyond the point to which the metal of the bit will spring andthe bit is bent in opposite directions, it being remembered that the bitis rotated rapidly during this bending operation. In this manner allirregularities are eliminated from the bit except the two large bends.The straightening devices are then gradually withdrawn and the bit isstraightened, it being apparent that when the operative faces of thestraightening rollers are spaced away from the axis of the bit adistance equal to the radius of the bit the bit will necessarily conformto a straight line so that the complete circumference of those portionsof the bit adjacent to the rollers will come in contact with therotation of the bit. At the end of the straightening operation thehandle is re turned or allowed to return under the action the rollersduring,

of the counterweight to its normal or idle position, thus againdisconnecting the clutch and actuating th chuck 28 to release the bit.As the clutch 28 is withdrawn the head 19 of the chuck 18, which hasbeen forced back against the tension of the spring by the chuck 28, willmove forward under the action oi the spring, thus releasing the bit fromthe chuck and enabling the same to be readily removed. It will be noted.that the yieldingoi' the chuck 28 is such that the device will withoutother adjustment of the parts accommodat bits 01' different lengths, butwhere the variation in the length of the bits is too great to be takencare of by the yield-ability of the chuck, then the top plate or bracketwhich carries the bearings for he shaft 3 may be adjusted axially of theshaft to properly position the chuck o receive such other bits.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it willbe understood that this has been chosen for the purposes of illustrationonly and that I do not desire to be limited to the details ofconstruction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occurto a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with spaced means to support a bit at each end androtate the same, of means arranged between said spaced means and theends of the bit, said last-mentioned means being adjustable -whereby itcan be adjusted to bear on an intermediate portion of the said bit asthe latter is being rotated and then adjusted away from said bit, bywhich operations the bit is straightened.

2. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of an adjustable straightening devicearranged to fixedly engage said bit between its ends while it is beingrotated, and means to move said device first into a position to bendsaid bit and then into a position to eliminate said bend.

3. The combination, with means to support a bit at each end and means torotate the same about a longitudinal axis, or" a plurality ofstraightening devices to engage said bit between its ends while it isbeing rotated, a part of said devices being arranged on one side of saidbit, and a part of said devices being arranged on the other side of saidbit, said devices being spaced apart longitudinally of said bit.

4. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of a plurality of straightening devices toengage said bit between its ends while it is being rota-ted, a part ofsaid devices being arranged on one side of said bit and a part of saiddevices being arranged on the other side of said bit, said devices beingspaced apart longitudinally of said bit, and

bit and a part of said devices being arranged on the other side of saidbit, said devices being spaced apart longitudinally of said bit,

and means for moving said devices simultaneously in opposite directions.

6. The combination, with two devices spaced apart toreceive and supportthe respective ends of a bit and to rotate said bit, of a straightenmgdevice arranged to act on said bit between its ends while it is beingrotated, one of said supporting devices being yieldably mounted to varythe distance between the two supporting devices as said bit is beingstraightened. r V

7. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receive and supportthe respective ends of a bit,and means to positively drive both of saiddevices, of a straightening device arranged to act on said bit betweenits'ends while it is being rotated.

8. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receiveand supportthe respective ends of a bit, and to rotate said bit, of a straighteningdevice arranged to act on said bit between its ends while it is beingrotated, one of said supporting devices comprising a chuck having partsacting on the end portion of said bit to straighten the same while saidstraightening device is acting on the intermediate portion of'said bit.

9. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receive and supportthe respective ends of a. bit, and to rotate said bit, of astraightening device arranged to act on said bit between its ends whileit is being rotated, one ofsaid supporting devices being adapted toreceive the shank of said bit and having a part rotatable about a fixedaxis, and adapted to receive the extreme end portion of said shank andhaving another part arranged to engage said shank at a point remote fromsaid end thereof, said last-mentioned part of said device being capableof a limited movement transversely toits axis of rotation.

10. The combination, with two devices spaced apart to receive andsupport the respective ends of a bit, and to rotate said bit, ofastraightening device arranged to act on said bit between its ends whileit is.

7 port a bit being rotated, one of said supporting devices being adaptedto receive the shank of said bit and having a part rotatable about afixed axis and adapted to receive the extreme end portion of said shankand having another part arranged to engage said shank at a point remotefrom said end thereof, said last-mentioned part of said device beingcapable of a limited movement transversely to its axis of rotation, anda guide cooperating with the lastunentioned part of said supportingdevice to straighten the said shank while the bit is being rotated.

11. The combination, .vith means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device ar ranged to engagesaid bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straighteningdevice comprising a convex surface arranged adjacent to and facing saidbit and also arranged to curve said bit lengthwise there of when broughtinto engagement therewith, and means for adjusting said straighteningdevice toward and away from said bit.

12. The combination, with means to supand rotate the same about alongitudinal axis, of a straightening device arranged to engage said bitbetween its ends while it is being rotated, said straightening devicecomprising a convex surface arranged adjacent to and facing said bit andalso arranged to impart to said bit a curve when brought into engagementtherewith, said convex surface having means to retain said bit inengagement therewith and prevent undue friction, and means to adjustsaid straightening device toward and away from said bit.

13. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a 1ongitudinal axis, of a straightening device arranged to engagesaid bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straighteningdevice comprising convex surfaces arranged adjacent to and facing saidbit and also arranged to impart a curve to said bit when brought intoengagement therewith, a convex surface being located on each side ofsaid bit, and means for adjusting said convex surfaces toward and awayfrom said bit, whereby a substantially reverse curve is imparted theretoand then eliminated.

let. The combination, with means to support a bit, and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of a pair of convex rollers mounted on eachside of the said bit and between the ends thereof, said rollers beingmounted on axes parallel to the said longitudinal axis and taperedtoward their ends, and means to adjust said rollers toward and away fromsaid bit.

15. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device arranged to engagesaid bit between its ends, said straightening device comprising a convexsurface provided with means to retain the bit in proper relation theretoand reduce friction mounted on each side of said bit and arranged indifferent planes longitudinally thereof, and means to adjust said convexsurfaces toward and away from said bit. 1

16. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of a straightening device mounted between theends of said bit and adjustable toward and away from said bit, saidstraightening device comprising a pair of rollers ,mounted on axesparallel with said longitudinal axis, said rollers being tapered towardtheir ends and convex, said rollers being arranged with reference tosaid rotating bit, whereby when the same are brought into engagementwith the bit the bit will be located in the space between the rollers.

17. The combination, with means to support a bit and rotate the sameabout a longitudinal axis, of straightening device arranged to engagesaid bit between its ends while it is being rotated, said straighteningdevice comprising two rollers mounted on parallel axes, tapered towardtheir ends and arranged to form between them a space to receive saidbit.

18. The combination, with a main frame, two shafts rotatably mounted inalinement on said frame and provided at their adjacent ends with chucksto receive the respective ends of a bit, power mechanism, a. clutch toconnect said power mechanism with one of said shafts, and one of saidchucks being capable of axial movement, of straightening devicesarranged to engage opposite sides of said bit between said chucks, saidstraightening devices being movable toward and away from said bit, anda. single device for actuating said clutch, said chuck and saidstraightening devices.

19. The combination, with a frame, two shafts rotatably mounted on saidframe having their axes coincident, means for rotating said shafts, achuck secured to one of said shafts, the other of said shafts beinghollow, a spindle mounted for axial movement in said hollow shaft, achuck carried by said spindle, and a spring tending to move saidlast-mentioned chuck toward the first-mentioned chuck, of straighteningdevices arranged to act on the bit, which is held by said chucks betweenits ends.

20. The combination, with a frame, two shafts rotatably mounted on saidframe in longitudinal alinement, and having their adjacent ends spacedapart and provided with chucks adapted to receive the respective ends ofa bit, of a straightening device arranged to act on said bit between theends thereof for simultaneously moving said straightening devices towardsaid bit.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, 7

92. The combination, with a' f'arne, .two shafts rotatably mounted onsaid frame in longitudinal alinement having their adjacent ends spacedapart and provided with chucks adapted to receive the respective ends ofa bit, of straightening devices arranged on different sides of said bit,each compris- ELMER T. MOPHERSON.

Washington, I). 0.

